Even if you are driving under the posted speed limit, you may be given a ticket or citation for driving too fast for the conditions. Driving too fast for conditions is defined as traveling at a speed that is greater than a reasonable standard for safe driving.
Examples of conditions where drivers may find themselves driving too fast include wet roadways (rain, snow, or ice); reduced visibility (fog); uneven roads; construction zones; curves; intersections; gravel roads; and heavy traffic.
In Kentucky, as in many states, it is possible to receive a citation for driving too fast for conditions, even if you are driving at or below the posted speed limit. This is because Kentucky law requires drivers to operate their vehicles at a safe speed that is appropriate for the current conditions of the roadway. Factors that can affect what is considered a safe speed include weather conditions like rain, snow, or ice, which can make roads slippery; reduced visibility due to fog; road construction; the presence of curves or intersections; the surface of the road (such as gravel); and heavy traffic. The relevant statute in Kentucky is KRS 189.390, which mandates that no person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. Violating this statute can result in a traffic citation, fines, and potentially points on the driver's license.